Bringing you news and insights about Tribal Art, its creators and its collectors.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Navajo family home to receive Extreme Makeover treatment.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has selected a Navajo family, the Yazzies of Arizona, for a makeover of their home. Previously living in a double-wide mobile home without plumbing, insulation and other comforts that average Americans take for granted, the Yazzie family struggled to provide warmth in their home.

Burning coal, a heating mainstay of Navajo structures was not possible since one of the Yazzie children, Gwendolyn, has severe asthma and suffers from epilepsy.Coal smoke would have been hazardous to her health.

Her brother, 13-year-old Garrett, went to work creating a solar heater using aluminum cans and old automotive parts. The task was accomplished with the help of internet research, mentors and many trips to the local junkyards for material.

Recognition Garrett’s initiative and innovation led to the Extreme Makeover producer selecting the Yazzie family to be on the receiving end of a replacement home constructed by HomeLife Communities. The effort was recorded on video from April 12 to April 17.

The new home was constructed in the style of a traditional Navajo Hogan and was faithful to the green and earth-friendly traditions of the Navajo people.

Scheduled airing of the program, and the famous Ty Pennnington line, “Good Morning, Yazzie family,” is yet to be announced.

You can watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC on Sunday evenings.